Preview: Five talking points ahead of Norwich City v Bolton Wanderers

Wanderers are back on the road on Saturday as they travel to Norfolk to face Norwich City.

Looking to build on Tuesday night's victory over Sunderland, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of the Whites' trip to Carrow Road.

1. Away form

Having lost only once at home in the Sky Bet Championship since September, Wanderers will be hoping to to replicate that form on their travels as they look to finish the season strongly.

The Whites have one away win to their name so far this campaign, coming away at Sheffield United in late-December, having found wins away from home hard to come by at this level in recent years.

However, Bolton showed their strength on the road last year as they clinched promotion back to the second tier at the first time of asking, often backed by a large, vocal away support.

And with many of their standout performances coming away from home, the Trotters will be eager to replicate some of last season's memorable results with every last point vital between now and the end of the season.

2. Enforced changes

With Mark Little and Josh Vela already absent through suspension and injury, Phil Parkinson will also be without the services of Karl Henry for Saturday's trip to Carrow Road after the midfielder picked up his tenth booking of the season last time out.

Wanderers made six changes to their starting XI for their midweek win of Sunderland, and Henry's absence guarantees at least one more change for the trip to Norwich.

Jem Karacan caught the eye in Tuesday's win over the Black Cats, while Derik Osede has also impressed when given the opportunity this season.

Elsewhere, captain Darren Pratley is closing in on a first team return, ensuring the Whites still boast plenty of options despite recent absentees.

3. Former Canaries

Aaron Wilbraham and Ben Alnwick could both line up against their former club on Saturday as Bolton make the trip to Norfolk.

Wilbraham, who was handed handed his first league start of the season last time out, spent 18 months at Carrow Road after joining Norwich in January 2011.

Helping the Canaries win promotion to the Premier League in his first few months at the club, the veteran forward helped Norwich finish 12th in the top-flight the following year before departing for Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, Alnwick, who has been one of the Trotters' standout performers in recent weeks, enjoyed a brief loan spell with Norwich in 2009, making six appearances for the club in a season that ended with them winning promotion back to the Championship.

4. Jan Kirchhoff

Wanderers completed the signing of Jan Kirchhoff on Thursday but Whites fans are unlikely to see the German in action at Carrow Road.

Although available for selection, the 27-year-old has been without a club since the summer and is expected to be eased in gradually as he looks to build up his fitness ahead of a vital period of the season.

5. Pay on the day

Tickets for Saturday's game will be available to purchase on the day at Carrow Road.

Kicking off at 3pm, travelling fans will be able to buy tickets directly from the main ticket office on a cash-only basis. There will be no price increase.

Tickets which have been sent down for collection or have been duplicated will also be left at the main ticket office.

Advance tickets remain on sale in person from Bolton Central or via the phone lines until 2pm on Friday 23 February, subject to availability.

Three changes were made to the side following the midweek defeat to Cardiff City as Bolton Wanderers made another long distance trip. David Wheater, Tyler Walker and Mark Little came in to replace Dorian Dervite, Adam Le Fondre and Filipe Morais, who were named among the substitutes.

First Half

Sammy Ameobi was fouled quite early into the contest as he turned and lost his marker to get a run on goal. Karl Henry, returning to Loftus Road, took the free kick, which caused a moment of mayhem in the QPR box. The hosts took several attempts to clear the ball – and survived a half-hearted penalty appeal – before the danger was negated.

At the other end, an unfortunate deflection culminated in a corner which caused a scramble before Ben Alnwick made a solid catch off Jack Robinson’s powerful volley.

Ameobi’s neat control and sophistry were very problematic for QPR’s’ defenders and again he won a free kick in a dangerous position. This resulted in the best chance of the game, which saw Alex Smithies make a wonderful save to thwart Derik’s near post glance from breaking the deadlock with barely ten minutes of the game elapsed.

Action switched once again to the other half of the pitch and Alnwick had to be wary to prevent Luke Freeman from opening the scoring after he latched onto a long throw. Alnwick’s legs came to the rescue immediately afterwards after a low ball was swung into the box.

Alnwick was certainly the busier of both keepers and he made a superlative save to keep out giant striker Matt Smith’s header from a left sided cross. The Wanderers keeper had to dive at full stretch to keep the parity.

Reece Burke spectacularly put the ball in his own net after Smith failed to connect with a low ball, but the assistant referee had earlier flagged for offside to spare the Wanderers’ defender’s blushes.

Smith was getting more into the game as the half wore on and he was making a nuisance of himself in the Wanderers box with his gargantuan presence.

Play had somewhat tempered after a frenetic opening period, but Tyler Walker had a chance from distance right on the half-hour mark but was unable to trouble Smithies with his tame shot.

Karl Henry received the game’s first caution for a high challenge on Josh Scowen in the QPR penalty area.

Alnwick was once alert to keep out a glanced header from Jake Bidwell who was to rise to Freeman’s in-swinging free-kick.

Right into injury time, Smith, again unmarked, headed high over the bar much to the relief of the defenders around him.

That Wanderers ended the half without conceding a goal was testament to the ability of Alnwick and the profligacy of Smith, who despite dominating the aerial battles, was unable to find a way beyond the Wanderers gloveman.

Second Half

Jem Karacan replaced Josh Vela during the interval for his first appearance since September.

Wanderers almost took the lead after Wheater leaped at the far post to head Ameobi’s free-kick on target emphatically, but the impressive Smithies once again denied the visitors by pushing the ball away for a corner.

The visitors suffered a massive blow ten minutes after the restart when Little was shown a straight red for a late tackle on Massimo Luongo. Replays showed that although the challenge was clumsy it didn’t warrant a sending off

The numerical disadvantage on the field was countered by the thousand-strong traveling Wanderers fans who were chanting ‘We Are The One And Only Wanderers’ implacably. And they nearly turned the volume up a further notch when Walker went narrowly wide with an angled drive after breaking the offside trap.

Despite being a man down, the visitors enjoyed their best sustained period of play with Alnwick enjoying something of a respite from attacking hostilities.

The reprieve was only short-lived as he made another superlative save to tip over Freeman’s drive at the expense of a corner.

Phil Parkinson made a second substitution with twenty minutes remaining when he brought on Le Fondre for Walker.

The goal came just minutes later when Joel Lynch headed the ball home at the far post after Smith nodded into the danger area from a free kick.

It was a disappointing way for Wanderers to concede after they had shown so much resilience up until that moment.

Wanderers final substation saw Morais on for Derik with just less than ten mnutes to go.

The visitors had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Ameobi broke away after collecting Alnwick’s long thrown. The big Wanderers attacker slipped in Morais on the overlap, whose centre seemingly struck the hands of a QPR defender. The officials, thought, were having none of it and Wanderers had to settle for a corner.

Despite the attacking substitutions Wanderers didn’t trouble Smithies any further and Smith made sure of the victory deep into injury time when he nodded a right-sided centre beyond Alnwick.

Wanderers now face a crucial home match against Sunderland on Tuesday night and will be looking to maintain their superb home form after two successive frustrating performances on their travels.

Take advantage of official Club travel for QPR trip

Avoid traffic and parking woes by using official club travel for Saturday's trip to Loftus Road!

Wanderers travel to Queens Park Rangers this weekend and there's still time for fans to take advantage of official club travel for the Whites' trip to the capital.

Kicking off at 3pm, limited places remain available with coaches for the trip costing £28 per person and departing Macron Stadium at 8am on Saturday 17 February.

Seats are available to purchase in person at Bolton Central, over the phone on 0844 871 2932 (option two then option one) and ONLINE.

Please note, it is a criminal offence to take alcohol onto coaches which are travelling to sporting events as per The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985. Bolton Wanderers reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone in possession or under the influence of alcohol. Any alcohol found on the coach will be confiscated.